i am finding it increasingly hard to work what would happen if i gave up my job

[jules1973]

[Hidden]

Please give more details... i.e. Your age, how long you have had epilepsy, what line of work you are involved in, and any other details you can. This is a very vague question and is difficult to answer straight out. Hoping you can provide the relevant information so we are able to give advice.

[jules1973 in reply to Hidden]

I am nearly 40yrs and have had epilepsy since 1999 and i work in a supermarket its beginning to affect my everyday life and not just my working life

[SandyH in reply to jules1973]

Are you on medication? if so is your epilepsy drug resistant? If you don't mind me asking what type of epilepsy have you got?

[SandyH in reply to jules1973]

Are you on medication? if so is your epilepsy drug resistant? If you don't mind me asking what type of epilepsy have you got?

[WHYADUCK2 in reply to jules1973]

Sainsburys ?

[CAROL6886]

Hi Jules, this must be a very hard decision to make. The best advice I can suggest is speak to your GP before you give up work as you would not be able to claim JSA, as you would have left your job voluntarily. If your GP signs you of sick you would be able to claim ESA. Which ever you decide to do their will be financial difficulties you will have to face. Which ever decision you take seek some advice from your local CAB bureau and or speak to ACAS. Good luck what ever you decide to do.

[timsgirl]

Id say the same go sick then try to claim what ever you can while off sick you can claim ESA for a year whilst trying thats what I'm doing now I left work a month ago! Good luck!

[jules1973 in reply to timsgirl]

What is ESA lol

[1164]

If you give up your job you will find it difficult to find work again. I gave up my job years ago

because of discrimination and found discrimination everywhere Now I can only get volunteer work. think twice before giving up your job.

[SandyH]

I had to give up my job but it wasn't through discrimination, I worked for the public sector. I tried to stay in for 2 years, but my epilepsy was drug resistant, so they offered me medical retirement. I had a pension with them so they give you a few options on your pension. I took a lump sum and a reasonable pension, when medically retired you get your pension enhanced, so its not all that bad, just bored. So check that out first especially if you have a pension.

Hope that helps

Sandy

[jules1973 in reply to SandyH]

i am nearly 40yrs and on tegretol and zonisamide but have tried all the rest and none of them work the doctors are looking at an operation but are in two minds if it will work due to how i got epilepsy in the first place i have absence seizures which puts me at risk with all jobs and mine is getting harder every year

[WHYADUCK2]

Been unemployed since epilepsy ( was a computer operator ) for over thirty years, I get unemployed plus ESA which is an extra £25 quid - this may chance for the worse when the new rules of DHSS happen. So get ready to live on £102 a week.

The trouble with epilepsy is that they (DHSS) do not want it to exist and regard it as no excuse for not getting a job; I have been for years trying to find out how many people with epilepsy have jobs to no avail.

So my advise hang, on tight to that job.

[jules1973 in reply to WHYADUCK2]

Hello since i wrote this its all changed i have a had a temporol lobe lobectomy and no longer have seizures been seizure free since december 2013 and living life to the max

[WHYADUCK2]

really nice to hear - best of luck

[WHYADUCK2]

lost job thirty years ago - still do not have one ( my job computer operator, 14 people could do my job at the time) ---- now no one will even allow me to clean a toilet in case I have a fit and go head down in it - YET DHSS still say after thirty years of unemployment i can work - WELCOME TO THE GRAY AREA OF UNEMPLOYMENT